Riley sighed as she stared at Sienna's luggage: just one trolley bag and a duffel. Leaning against the countertop, her gaze lingered on Sienna, her expression a mix of longing and frustration.
Sienna caught Riley's look, her face softening as she walked over. "What's with the long face?" she asked, wrapping her arms around Riley and looking up at her.
"You haven't even left yet, but I already miss you," Riley murmured, pulling Sienna closer and burying her face in her shoulder, the weight of their upcoming separation sinking in.
Sienna sighed gently, rubbing Riley's back in comforting circles. "I'm going to miss you too, love, but I'll be back soon." She kissed Riley's temple softly. "Besides, you're driving me there, right? So we still have some time together."
Riley nodded against Sienna's shoulder, holding her tighter. "Yeah, but it's not enough."
Sienna rested her chin on Riley's shoulder, gently rubbing her back to soothe her. "Riley!" she suddenly shrieked, feeling Riley's lips bite down on her neck, followed by a soft, teasing suck.
Riley chuckled, her breath warm against Sienna's skin as she continued. "Love!" Sienna repeated, her face flushing as she lightly pinched Riley's arm. "That's going to leave a mark," she protested, her voice soft with a hint of embarrassment.
"Good," Riley murmured, pulling back just enough to meet Sienna's eyes, a playful yet serious glint in her own. "At least you'll have something to remember me by." She let out a sigh, her playful demeanor fading as she looked away, trying to hide the moisture in her eyes.
Sienna's heart clenched at the sight. She swallowed hard, gently cupping Riley's cheek. "Hey..." she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.
Riley blinked back the tears, finally meeting her gaze. "Just... be safe, okay? And come back soon. I'll miss you... so much."
Sienna let out a heavy sigh, her gaze dropping to the floor. Riley, sensing the tension, clapped her hands lightly and cleared her throat, trying to break the heaviness in the air. "Alright, we should get going so you can get some rest. Tomorrow's your big day!" She tried to sound upbeat, but the ache of missing Sienna had already begun to settle deep inside her. This was the first time they would face a long-distance separation, and even though it was just for a month, Riley knew how much she'd miss having Sienna around. Still, in the back of her mind, she was already planning to propose once Sienna returned.
As Riley picked up Sienna's things, she asked, "Did you double-check everything? You didn't forget anything important, right? And... can I visit you if you have some free time? I know you'll probably be super busy, but maybeâ" She stopped mid-sentence, feeling Sienna's arms suddenly wrap around her, followed by the soft sound of a sniffle.
"Just say the word if you don't want me to leave," Sienna whispered, her voice shaky. The vulnerability in her tone made Riley pause.
Riley sighed softly and turned to face her, gently lifting Sienna's chin so their eyes met. "Love, this is your dream, right? How could I ask you to give up something you've worked so hard for? You've always supported me with my plans, so how can I disregard yours? You don't need to sacrifice this opportunity for me." Riley's voice softened, but it carried the weight of reassurance. "We're not breaking up. I'm just saying I'm going to miss you, that's all. I'm not used to you not being around."
Ever since they graduated, Sienna had moved into Riley's unit, even though her own place was just across Riley's. The closeness had made their bond feel like an unbreakable thread, and now that thread was stretching, if only for a little while.
Sienna sniffled again, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. Riley smiled warmly, wiping them away with her thumb. "Come on now, don't cry. It's just one month, and before you know it, we'll be back together." She leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to Sienna's forehead before pulling her into a tight hug.
Riley hummed softly to herself as she arranged everything for their special day. It wasn't anything extravagant, but she wanted Sienna to feel cherished, to know how much she meant to her. She had considered picking Sienna up, but Sienna insisted on taking a cab and asked Riley to wait at the venue instead.
As she finished placing the final touches, her phone chimed. She glanced down at the screen and saw a message from Sienna.
"Will be late for an hour, love, sudden change of schedule. Will you be able to wait?" The text was followed by a sad-faced emoji.
Riley smiled, her heart warming at the sight of the message. She quickly typed a reply, "Willing to wait for you always, my love." After sending the message, she slipped her phone into her pocket, grabbed her car keys, and headed out to finalize the last few preparations, her excitement for the evening undeterred by the delay.
Today was the day Sienna would finally return from her month-long work tripâon their anniversary, no less. Riley couldn't stop smiling, biting her lip in excitement. She slid into her car, started the engine, and thought about how much she had missed Sienna. For the past month, she'd tried to keep herself busy, making sure not to interrupt Sienna's hectic schedule.
It didn't take long to arrive at the venue. Riley checked her phone for any messages from Sienna as she waited. It was past seven, and although Sienna had told her she'd be late and wouldn't arrive until eight, Riley was still buzzing with excitement. She typed a quick message: "Already here, waiting for you," before placing the phone back in her pocket.
The location had been privately rented, just for the two of themâan intimate setting for the night she'd planned. Pulling out a small box from her pocket, Riley opened it to reveal an engagement ring. She had saved up from her investments and salary to buy it. "This will look perfect on her," she whispered to herself, imagining how Sienna might react.
Glancing at her watch, Riley noticed it was almost nine, and Sienna still hadn't arrived. Worry crept in. She picked up her phone and sent another message. The earlier one had been delivered, but Sienna hadn't seen it yet.
She tried calling. It just rang and rang. No answer. Panic started to build as Riley typed another message, her fingers trembling: "Where are you? Is everything okay? Just tell me, and I'll come find you."
Locking her phone, Riley tried to shake off the nerves. She clasped her hands together, resting her forehead on them, desperately trying to stay calm.
Then, her phone chimed. She quickly unlocked it, relief washing over her for a brief momentâuntil she read the message.
"I'm sorry, Riley. I won't be coming."
"I'm tired of our relationship. I'm sorry."
"Let's break up. Please forget about me."
"Leave me alone and never contact me again."
Riley's heart dropped. She swallowed hard, her throat constricting as tears started streaming down her face. Her hands shook as she tried calling Sienna again, but the line wouldn't connect. Her messages wouldn't go through.
"Come on... come on," she whispered, her voice breaking as she tried again, the phone shaking in her hands. Nothing.
"Goddammit!" she cried, slamming her fist against the table in frustration.
"Why... why are you doing this?" she sobbed, her voice thick with emotion. Her vision blurred with tears, the engagement ring now a cruel reminder of what she had been planning for that night.